Cousins scores 56, sets Sacramento record in double-OT loss

The Hornets (22-23) overcame Cousins’ career-high 56 points to win their third consecutive contest.

Now this season, he is averaging a team-high and career-high 26.7 points (.447 FG%,.347 3PT%,.740 FT%), team-high 11.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, team-high 1.3 blocks and 33.7 minutes per game. The 36 points per game was tops in the entire league, and included in that was a career-high 48 points against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

Marvin Williams and Spencer Hawes each reached their season high in points with 21 and 18 respectively.

Cousins had a shot at 60 points but fouled out of the game with 3:30 left in the second overtime. The loss also marked Sacramento’s second in overtime to Charlotte this season.

Darren Collison scored 15 points off the bench for the Kings and Omri Casspi had 13 points and eight rebounds.

The enigmatic DeMarcus Cousins was at his absolute Boogie best Monday night.

The Kings outscored the Hornets 74-30 in points in the paint. Daniels’ 3-pointer with 9.0 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner.

Cousins had 14 points in the fourth quarter and added nine more in the first overtime.

Cousins’ two free throws put Sacramento ahead 116-115 with 5.1 seconds left in regulation. Walker was fouled and made the first free throw but missed the second, sending the game to overtime.

Cousins took the blame for the third quarter as the man he was defending, Hawes, made all four of his three-point attempts. After kicking off the year with a 1-7 start and barely talking about the playoffs, the Kings are now sitting alone in the 8th seed and currently riding a five-game win streak.

Hornets: C Al Jefferson (knee) out, F Nic Batum (sore big toe) questionable, G Jeremy Lamb (toe) questionable, C Cody Zeller (shoulder) out, F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (shoulder) out.

Kings: Gay made two free throws to open the scoring in the second overtime, but was poked in the eye and didn’t return…. He finished with 20 points and nine rebounds and two blocked shots in his first game back after missing two with a left heel contusion. Rondo also recorded his 30th game with at least 10 assists this season, tying Reggie Theus’ 1986-87 team mark for the second most in one season.